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Battle of Ruxu (222-223)
Part of the wars of the Three Kingdoms period
DateLate 222 - Early 223
LocationRuxu, Yang Province, on the eastern side of present-day Lake Chaohu, Anhui.
Result Wei retreat
Belligerents
Cao Wei Eastern Wu
Commanders and leaders
Cao Ren Zhu Huan


The Battle of Ruxu, also known as the Battle of Ruxukou, took place in 222-223 between the forces of Cao Wei and Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. The battle was the third battle taking place between the Cao and Sun clan at Ruxu, but this particular conflict was the only of the three to take place actually during the Three Kingdoms period, as the other two took place in 213 and 217.

Background[]

Following the Shu Han defeat at the Battle of Xiaoting, the alliance between Cao Pi and Sun Quan was tested, because the protection the agreement held was no longer needed as the Shu forces reestablished their own relations with the Sun clan. After Sun Deng, the crown prince and eldest son of Sun Quan, was demanded by Cao Pi as hostage, Sun Quan's relations with Wei ultimately plummeted. However, Cao Pi was trying to sour diplomatic relations between the Liu clan and the Sun clan. In November 222, Sun Quan declared himself independent once again from Wei, and Cao Pi responded with force.

The plan for Wei was to strike Wu in three different ways along the Yangtze River.[1] Wei generals Xiahou Shang and Cao Zhen attacked Jiangling and Nan commandery, Cao Xiu and Zang Ba attacked Dongkou, and Cao Ren attacked Ruxu.

The battle[]

The defense of Ruxu was under the command of Wu general Zhu Huan,[2] who had a much smaller force than the Wei invaders.

Cao Ren sent his son Cao Tai (曹泰) to attack Ruxu. He also sent Chang Diao (常雕) to supervise Zhuge Qian (諸葛虔) and Wang Shuang to attack an island on the river.[3] The defenders wives and children were there, but the Wei forces were quickly defeated at the island.[4] The battle was not in favor of the Wei forces, so they later burnt their camps and retreated.[5]

Aftermath[]

Cao Ren died after the battle ended in 223. He was posthumously named "Marquis Zhong" (忠侯).[6]

Order of battle[]

Wei forces[]

Wu forces[]

References[]

  1. De Crespigny, Rafe. "Online Publications". Asian Studies. Archived from the original on 21 July 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050721181346/http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/decrespigny/gos_ch7.pdf. Retrieved 9 April 2012. "This, of course, meant war, and war came very quickly. In the ninth month, Cao Pi gave orders for three armies to move south against the Yangzi." 
  2. De Crespigny, Rafe. "Online Publications". Asian Studies. Archived from the original on 21 July 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050721181346/http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/decrespigny/gos_ch7.pdf. Retrieved 9 April 2012. "Further upstream, at Ruxu, the defence was under the command of Zhu Huan" 
  3. (仁果遣其子泰攻濡須城,分遣將軍常雕督諸葛虔、王雙等,乘油船別襲中洲。) Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 56, Biography of Zhu Huan.
  4. De Crespigny, Rafe. "Online Publications". Asian Studies. Archived from the original on 21 July 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050721181346/http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/decrespigny/gos_ch7.pdf. Retrieved 9 April 2012. "Cao Ren sent a naval detachment which sought to capture an island, Zhongzhou, where the defenders' wives and children were camped. The attack was defeated" 
  5. De Crespigny, Rafe. "Online Publications". Asian Studies. Archived from the original on 21 July 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050721181346/http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/decrespigny/gos_ch7.pdf. Retrieved 9 April 2012. "and the siege force about Ruxu burnt their camp and retreated" 
  6. de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A biographical dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD). Brill. p. 46. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0. 
  • Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms.
  • Rafe de Crespigny. Generals of the South, Chapter Seven: Claim to the Mandate 222-229.
  • Rafe de Crespigny. (2007). A biographical dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD).

Coordinates: 31°38′7.22″N 117°53′20.29″E / 31.6353389°N 117.8889694°E / 31.6353389; 117.8889694

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The original article can be found at Battle of Ruxu (222–223) and the edit history here.
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